Silas r



UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

S'ILAS R. DIVINE, on LOCI-I sHnLDRAKs, NEW YORK.

EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND.

1 srncmca'rrox forming part of Letters Patent m.,s4o,e47, dated .nuie 11, ees.

Application filed November 2,1894. sesnstm so. (Kospecimsnm) act description.

My invention relates to a high explosive; and my invention consists in an explosive compound composed of nitrate of lead and a nitrated hydrocarbon of the benzol series which is of itself non-explosive, such, for example, as dinitro-benzol.

In forming my explosive compound I employ nitrate of lead,-(Pb,(N0 )2) and, preferably, as the nitrated hydrocarbon, the dinitrobenzol of commerce, (G H,(NO )2.) The desirable proportions of these ingredients, to efiz'ect thebest results with the compound as an ex plosive, are four (i) parts of nitrate-of lead and one (1) part of dinitro-benzol. In fabricating the compound the dinitro benzol may be melted in a suitable vessel by the application theretqof the requisite degree of heat, and may then be mixed, while cooling and eongealing, with the nitrate of lead, which --has been pulverized toa fine powder, asb'y stirring the nitrate of lead intoythe dinitrobenzol in a suitable receptacle.- It is desirable to continnethe stirring until the' dinitrobenzol has congealed, when the mixed mate rials will be found to assume the form of a granular powder, ready for use. 'The pulverized nitrate of lead may, if desired, be intimately mixed with the melted dinitro-ben- 201, and the mass be allowed to remain quiescent while the dinitro -benzol is congealing; and when the mass has solidified, it may be tonating-cap,

40 broken. up into pieces and then ground in a A suitable mill into the form of a granular powder for use.

Other nitrated hydrocarbons oi the, benzol series possessing the character and non-explosibility, when alone, of dinitro-benzol, may be employed in place of dinitro-benzol in the compound; as, for example, the higher nitrated compounds of napbtholine,'snch as tetranitro-naphtholine, (C, ll,-(NO )4;) or picric acid which has had its 'sensitiveness or explosihility diminished by the admixture with it of some suitable inlet material, such as a hydro-carbon'; or mixtures of other uitrated hydrocarbons'of the benzol series of a nature similar to nitro-benzol.

The proportions of the said ingredients in the compound may be varied somewhat from those hereinhefore stated as desirable, and an effective high explosive of like characteristics be produced. 1

Fulminate of mercury, in the form of a. de-

such as usually employed in blasting-operations, will effect the explosion of the described compound. The compound is useful in mining operations where it is desired to breakup the material to be blasted into small fragments, as where the resistance to be overcome is very great. 1

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is An explosive compound composed of Db trate of lead and a nitrated hydrocarbon of the benzol series, which is of itself non-explosive, such, for example, as dinitro-benzol, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

SILAS R. DIYINE. Witnesses: DE Lemony. T. ,SMITH,

ARDEN S. Frrcn. 

